Department profile
Lee & Thompson LLP

Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious

UK Guide 2026 : UK-wide

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Lee & Thompson LLP

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About

Provided by Lee & Thompson LLP

Whatever the challenge, issue or requirement, Lee & Thompson provides unparalleled legal and commercial advice to the media, technology, entertainment and the wider creative industries.  

With a team of more than 50 lawyers dedicated to this sector, the firm is at the top of its game, its expertise spanning all major areas of media and entertainment, from film, music, television, theatre and live events to publishing, marketing & advertising, digital media, fashion and technology. 

Since 1983, Lee & Thompson’s remarkable team has been at the forefront of media law and represents some of the most impressive businesses and talented individuals in the creative industries. 

A true one-stop-shop, Lee & Thompson offers clients the full range of corporate, employment, immigration, IP, brand and reputation protection and dispute resolution services. 

Industries (15)

  • Music
  • Film
  • Television
  • Advertising & Marketing
  • Videogames
  • Sport
  • Fashion
  • Creative Industries
  • Media
  • Technology
  • Digital Media
  • Live Events
  • Publishing
  • Theatre
  • Interactive Entertainment

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious - UK-wide

What the Team is Known For

Lee & Thompson is an eminent media and entertainment boutique firm with market-leading film, TV and music, theatre and live events practices. The firm acts for independent film and TV production companies, distributors and financiers. Its music department advises global artists and breakthrough talent, songwriters and producers on a host of commercial and contentious matters. The firm maintains a specialist group of media and entertainment litigators. It is noted for strength in matters related to digital content across all areas of media and entertainment. The team acts for well-known brands and leading agencies on commercial, contentious and regulatory advertising and marketing matters. The firm additionally houses noted experts on the video games industry.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Lee & Thompson advised McDonald's on the Stormzy campaign. Work consisted of negotiating agreements to enable McDonald's to create an exclusive "Stormzy" branded menu and negotiating cameo appearances.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • They have a really detailed and wide ranging understanding of deal structures both nationally and internationally. We continuously receive expert and solutions-focused advice.

    Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK

  • Their strength is the depth and breadth of knowledge. Lee & Thompson deals with so many types and sizes of productions, I feel reassured that they will offer advice based on experience.

    Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK

  • The team possesses multi-territory knowledge and network. They have in-depth commercial knowledge clearly acquired from advising on a range of deals in this area.

    Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK

  • Their guidance on all legal matters has been well informed and has helped us find solutions in countries around the world. It seems every time we encounter a new hurdle, L&T has someone for the job.

    Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK

  • They excel at distilling complex legal analysis into the simpler black and white risk assessed issues essential for commercial decision-making.

    Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Andrew Thompson
    Andrew Thompson

    Andrew Thompson

    Andrew Thompson has a fantastic roster of talent clients built over a long career advising on the music industry. He is one of the firm's founding partners and continues to assist with commercial and contractual agreements for composers, producers, managers and artists.
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  • Robert Lee
    Robert Lee

    Robert Lee

    Robert Lee has a long and successful track record as an adviser to both artists and record labels. He has worked with independent, up-and-coming and internationally popular acts, advising on both contentious and non-contentious matters.
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  • Reno Antoniades
    Reno Antoniades

    Reno Antoniades

    Reno Antoniades is the firm's managing partner. He is recognised as one of the country's leading film lawyers, advising on finance and myriad production, sales and distribution agreements.

    • Reno is very strong and benefits from having been intimately involved in the production process of movies.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK
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  • Christos Michaels
    Christos Michaels

    Christos Michaels

    Christos Michaels leads the firm's film practice. He acts for financiers, distributors and sales agents, as well as UK and international producers and studios large and small.

    • He instils absolute confidence.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK

    • He plays at a very high level and is very pleasant to deal with.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK

    • Christos has been a great supporter of the company from the outset. He provided advice and support during a period of sustained growth, helping us to navigate various market challenges along the way.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK
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  • Lawrence Engel
    Lawrence Engel

    Lawrence Engel

    Lawrence Engel leads the firm's music practice. He is the relationship partner to many of the best-loved UK artists to have emerged in recent years.

    • He has a phenomenal practice.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK
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  • Richard Lever
    Richard Lever

    Richard Lever

    Richard Lever leads the firm's TV practice. He is relied upon by production companies and talent-side clients for all facets of production finance and the commercial arrangements required to bring shows to people's screens.

    • Richard is super-conscientious, commercially savvy and genuinely concerned about the level of support he and his team provide. He has a great team around him too.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK
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  • Gordon Williams
    Gordon Williams

    Gordon Williams

    Gordon Williams represents talent and industry clients in all manner of contract, copyright and brand litigation. He has extensive experience supporting clients in the USA with cross-border matters.

    • Gordon has a fantastic brain. He is very analytical, has fantastic knowledge of copyright and contract law, a good bedside manner and good communication.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK
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  • Huw Morris
    Huw Morris

    Huw Morris

    Huw Morris advises on the full span of copy clearance, intellectual property, commercial and regulatory matters. His clients include brands and advertising agencies, as well as high-profile individuals involved in social media campaigns and partnerships.

    • Huw is a pleasure to work with.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK

    • Huw has been an excellent business partner to our company and is a key factor in us using the firm.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK

    • He is a great advertising lawyer, he is very commercial and knows the risks.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK
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  • Julian Ward
    Julian Ward

    Julian Ward

    Julian Ward represents a number of video game developers and publishers in a variety of matters, including contractual, corporate and intellectual property issues.

    • He is good with the clients and is very approachable. He brings that key knowledge of the industry and listens carefully to different perspectives. He very much integrates into the team.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK

    • Julian gets his hands dirty. He is always available and plays almost a pastoral role.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK

    • Julian is an excellent lawyer and has great and valuable experience in gaming. I have no hesitation recommending him to others.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK
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  • Mike Brookes
    Mike Brookes

    Mike Brookes

    Mike Brookes is a seasoned media litigator recommended for all manner of commercial and copyright infringement disputes. He also leads the firm's reputation protection team and acts on behalf of a number of high-profile music clients in defamation cases.

    • Mike Brookes is a well-established practitioner who doesn't put a foot wrong.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK
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  • Dominic Bray
    Dominic Bray

    Dominic Bray

    Dominic Bray is head of the dispute resolution department at Lee & Thompson. His contentious media practice covers contractual disputes, advertising clearance, sponsorship work, IP litigation and regulatory compliance.

    • Dominic is an expert litigator and a true lawyer but with an excellent commercial sense.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK
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  • Lizzie Payne-James
    Lizzie Payne-James

    Lizzie Payne-James

    Lizzie Payne-James is lauded for her work as a talent-side legal and commercial adviser to both emerging and established music acts. She also frequently acts for companies such as independent record labels and boutique agencies.
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  • Mark Stafford
    Mark Stafford

    Mark Stafford

    Mark Stafford is best known as a music litigator and acts for artists, agents, record labels, management companies and publishers in contract disputes of all kinds. He is further recommended for copyright and trade mark litigation.

    • Mark Stafford is an astute, hard-working astute litigator.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK
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  • Martyn Bailey
    Martyn Bailey

    Martyn Bailey

    Martyn Bailey has a flourishing media dispute resolution practice, with particular expertise in the music industry. He is experienced in a range of copyright issues as well as professional negligence and partnership disputes.

    • Martyn gets top-quality music industry work, he really understands the business and is tremendously responsive and hard-working.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK

    • Martyn Bailey attracts very high-profile clients in the media business and is a very important part of their creative offering.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK
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  • Nicki Parfitt
    Nicki Parfitt

    Nicki Parfitt

    Nicki Parfitt represents corporate clients from all sides of the film and television industries, including financiers, sales agents and production companies. She is one of the UK's leading experts in sales and distribution due to her previous in-house experience in this sector.

    • Nicki is experienced, tough, fair and effective. She has an extensive network and provides crisp clarity to issues we face, helping us solve problems together.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK

    • We have complete confidence in Nikki's expertise on film and TV.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK
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  • Sam Tatton-Brown
    Sam Tatton-Brown

    Sam Tatton-Brown

    Sam Tatton-Brown is a leading expert on film and TV finance, advising banks, investment companies, production houses and streaming platforms. He is also recommended for advice on television programme commissioning.
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  • Lee Stone
    Lee Stone

    Lee Stone

    Lee Stone advises producers, financiers, post-production houses and distributors on all facets of film production and finance. He is well versed in dealing with the international aspects of producing and financing projects based in the USA.

    • Lee has a good understanding of the business. He knows the market very well, is connected and has a good handle on what's happening internationally and in the domestic market.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK

    • He is an excellent all-rounder, solid and super experienced.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK

    • Lee Stone is an excellent all-rounder, solid and super-experienced.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK
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  • Sam Goodman
    Sam Goodman

    Sam Goodman

    Sam Goodman leads the firm's theatre and live events practice, advising production companies and writers on talent contracts, stage rights, branding and licences for immersive experiences. He is also recommended for tax relief and structuring advice for mounting big-ticket shows.

    • Sam Goodman offers absolutely amazing service and knowledge of the theatre world.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK

    • Sam is great colleague to have in our corner.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK

    • Sam is an excellent lawyer who always goes the extra mile to help us with our negotiations and drafting.

      Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious respondentUK
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Ranked Individuals at Lee & Thompson LLP (18)

UK-wide

  • Profile image of Huw Morris

    Huw Morris

    Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing

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  • Profile image of Dominic Bray

    Dominic Bray

    Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing

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  • Profile image of Reno Antoniades

    Reno Antoniades

    Media & Entertainment: Film & Television

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  • Profile image of Christos Michaels

    Christos Michaels

    Media & Entertainment: Film & Television

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  • Profile image of Richard Lever

    Richard Lever

    Media & Entertainment: Film & Television

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  • Profile image of Nicki Parfitt

    Nicki Parfitt

    Media & Entertainment: Film & Television

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  • Profile image of Sam Tatton-Brown

    Sam Tatton-Brown

    Media & Entertainment: Film & Television

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  • Profile image of Julian Ward

    Julian Ward

    Media & Entertainment: Games, Interactive Entertainment & Social Media

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  • Profile image of Gordon Williams

    Gordon Williams

    Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious

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  • Profile image of Mike Brookes

    Mike Brookes

    Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious

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  • Profile image of Mark Stafford

    Mark Stafford

    Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious

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  • Profile image of Martyn Bailey

    Martyn Bailey

    Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious

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  • Profile image of Andrew Thompson

    Andrew Thompson

    Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious

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  • Profile image of Robert Lee

    Robert Lee

    Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious

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  • Profile image of Lawrence Engel

    Lawrence Engel

    Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious

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  • Profile image of Lizzie Payne-James

    Lizzie Payne-James

    Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious

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  • Profile image of Sam Goodman

    Sam Goodman

    Media & Entertainment: Theatre & Live Events

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Members

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